SCR 78 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO STRENGTHEN MENSTRUAL HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVES AND TO ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE MENSTRUAL CYCLE CURRICULUM.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to strengthen menstrual health education initiatives and adopt a comprehensive curriculum for public schools. The resolution calls for a curriculum built on four pillars of menstrual dignity: privacy, inclusivity, access, and education, while covering topics like hygiene, stigmas, and health challenges. It specifies age-appropriate goals for grades 5, 8, and 12, and requires elementary schools to include anatomically correct diagrams, age-appropriate books, and instruction on menstrual dignity. This non-binding resolution does not change existing laws but recommends specific educational standards to improve menstrual health education across the state.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Signed Apr 29, 2026

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What changed between versions

SCR78_HD1 → SCR78_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to streamline the scope of menstrual health education by removing the distinction between 'middle and intermediate' schools, now applying only to middle schools. The curriculum requirements were simplified to focus on specific grade levels (5, 8, and 12) and removed the mandate to include 'culturally relevant views' in favor of a direct reference to Native Hawaiian practices. Additionally, the list of required topics was updated to include period poverty and pain management while removing a separate section on cultural practices.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was narrowed from covering both middle and intermediate schools to only middle schools, and the specific grade levels for instruction were reduced from a broad range to grades 5, 8, and 12.

SCOPE

The target audience was changed from 'middle and intermediate school students' to only 'middle school students'.

REQUIREMENT

Curriculum requirements were narrowed to specific grade levels (5, 8, and 12) instead of spanning multiple grade ranges.

The requirement to include 'culturally relevant views' was removed and replaced with a direct mention of 'Native Hawaiian views and cultural practices'.

New mandatory topics were added to include 'period poverty' and 'how to manage menstruation-related pain'.

The specific requirement to teach 'common myths regarding the menstrual cycle's role in the reproductive system' was removed.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Introduced

Senate agrees with House amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Adoption on 04-30-26.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 864).

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted with Representative(s) Gedeon, Muraoka voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Pierick voting no (4) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2265-26), recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Ratcliffe, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa, Perruso, Alcos.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with Representative(s) Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Woodson excused (3).

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2215-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela, Kila.

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 28

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 464) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3596) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU added the measure to the public hearing scheduled on 04-08-26 1:03PM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors